159. Retreat

"Princess!" Feng Zhiyao rushed in from outside like a gust of wind, and his usually carefree face was covered with fine sweat. The cynical Junya also turned pale because of nervousness. Ye Li raised her head and looked at him, smiling and asked, "What's wrong?" Feng Zhiyao pointed at her inappropriately, and quickly retracted his finger, but his face still looked like he had indigestion, "You...Princess...You, you really..."

"That's right." Unaccustomed to his trembling appearance, Ye Li nodded generously and admitted, "Yes, I am pregnant."

"How could this happen!" Feng Zhiyao looked as if struck by lightning, looking at Ye Li pitifully. Ye Li couldn't help but feel embarrassed, and helplessly put down the pen and said: "The prince and I have been married for more than a year, what's the problem with having a child?" Feng Zhiyao was silent, what's the problem with a married couple having a child? Of course there is no problem. But now... when the two armies are fighting, is it a problem for the commander of one army to have a child? With a tearful face, Feng Zhiyao sighed: "Young Master... you came at the wrong time..." Even if it was a few days earlier, at least when the prince was still here, he would know how to deal with this matter. Ye Li unconsciously stroked her flat belly and chuckled, "It's time, but it's already here. What can I do?" Well, she was indeed inconsiderate for not taking precautions. "Feng San, do you have any suggestions?"

"I will report this to the prince immediately!" That was Mo Xiuyao's child, the young master of Prince Dingguo's Palace. How could he dare to make any suggestions?

"No." Ye Li shook her head and said, "The news of my pregnancy can only be known to Zhuo Jing and a few others. You are the only one who needs to know among the generals, and you are not allowed to spread it to others."

Feng Zhiyao frowned, "Why is this?"

Ye Li said helplessly: "The prince is busy now, why bother distracting him? Besides, it won't do us any good if the news of my pregnancy gets out." Feng Zhiyao said worriedly: "But the safety of the princess and the young master... I'm afraid it won't be kept secret for long." Ye Li thought: "I estimate that this war will be over in three months at most, and the child will be... "Not satisfied with April. As long as you are careful, there will be no problem." Feng Zhiyao wanted to persuade him again, but was stopped by Ye Li, "It is not easy for the prince to deal with various coalition forces. If he is asked to worry about us, do you think it will be good for him?" Feng Zhiyao looked at Ye Li with a firm face, and finally sighed and whispered: "I obey your orders, and please take care of yourself, princess."

"I understand." Ye Li nodded.

At the end of September and the beginning of October, the weather in the northwest had become somewhat cold. The occasional drizzle and cold wind made the people who grew up in Chujing feel the arrival of winter in advance. As winter approached, the fodder for military use began to become scarce. Xiling State was not known for its abundant grain production, so its grain reserves were naturally not very rich. Moreover, it was completely unexpected that this war, which was originally thought to be a sure win, would end up in such a stalemate. The grain in Xiling began to show some signs of being in short supply. By mid-October, except for some people who still left to besiege Xinyang, the King of Zhennan had already transferred most of his troops to Hongzhou, known as the granary of the northwest, and the Xiling soldiers also began their long-awaited looting. They robbed government granaries and treasuries wherever they went, and also robbed farmland of food that had not yet been harvested, and even went so far as to rob ordinary villages.

When the news reached Xinyang, Ye Li was naturally furious. In fact, she had experienced countless wars in her past and present lives, but she had never experienced a real war. But... she knew about war. Because the peaceful and prosperous times she lived in in her previous life had not been away from war for too long. Compared with Mo Jingli's rebellion before, it couldn't even be called a real war. Mo Jingli was a native of Da Chu, and he was not a madman. Even if the two armies were fighting, he would not hurt ordinary people at will. Because in Mo Jingli's heart, they were still his common people after all. But the people of Xiling were different. They wanted not only the vast land of Da Chu, but also the food, grass, gold and silver wealth on it. They even wanted to destroy as many people living on this land as possible. Xiling was bitter and cold, and they needed someone to vacate this large piece of rich land for them. She could imagine the suffering of the people in the northwest, but... she was powerless to do anything...

"Princess..." In the spacious study, all the generals present looked unhappy. Feng Zhiyao looked at Ye Li's tightly clenched hands and cold expression with worry, frowned and said: "Princess, please calm down. This matter... is not your business." Ye Li snorted lightly, glanced at the generals below and said lightly: "It's not my fault... Then whose fault is it?" Everyone lowered their heads and said in unison: "I am incompetent, please punish me, Princess." Ye Li lowered her eyes and sighed softly: "I have no I have the right to punish you. I just hope you remember one thing. The duty of the Mohist Army is to protect the country. But now, the Xiling people are wreaking havoc in the northwest, and the people are living in misery. Everyone, stand on the city wall and look out. Do you know what this is? This is... the shame of the Mohist Army. Letting the people who need their protection be abused by foreigners is a shame for the army. Similarly... it is also a shame for the Dingguo Palace!"

Everyone's faces turned red, and several young generals couldn't help but jump out, "Please give the order, Princess. We are willing to be the vanguard to drive away the bandits in Xiling and shake the military spirit of our Mohist school!"

Ye Li shook his head and sighed, picked up the memorial on the table and handed it over, saying, "Let's see, how should this account be settled?"

After receiving the memorial handed down by Ye Li, everyone's face changed after reading it. The King of Zhennan sent more troops to the northwest, obviously intending to destroy the Mohist army in the northwest and then encircle the king's retreat. In the past few days, the garrisons in various places in the northwest have suffered heavy losses.

"Feng San, what do you think?" Ye Li asked.

Feng San looked up at Ye Li, a little hesitant. Ye Li said, "Just tell the truth."

Feng San gritted his teeth and said, "My opinion is to abandon Xinyang!" Everyone was outraged. Xinyang was massacred before, and the prince personally took it back from the Xiling people. If it is lost again, it will not look good for the Mohist army. Ye Li had a calm expression and said in a light voice, "Tell me your reasons." Feng Zhiyao said, "Xinyang City is flat on three sides, easy to attack but difficult to defend. And now it is just an empty city. There is no point in defending it. Once the Xiling army occupies the eleven cities in the northwest, Xinyang will inevitably become an ancient city. By then, what is the point even if we can take it for a few months?" Ye Li nodded and said, "Go on." Feng Zhiyao walked to a large map hanging not far away, looked up, pointed to a place and said, "My opinion is..." Abandon Xinyang, seize the road from Lishui and refuse to take Hongzhou. Hongzhou is the granary of the northwest, and the terrain is complex and dangerous. Although the Xiling army is trying hard to open the road to Hongzhou, it still encounters setbacks. We are familiar with the terrain of the northwest, and we can definitely rush to Hongzhou before their troops arrive, and clear out the vanguard troops already in Hongzhou. In addition, Hongzhou is located in a fortress, which is the gateway to the northwest. As long as we defend Hongzhou, King Zhennan will not be able to enter the Central Plains from the northwest even if he has thousands of troops. "

There was silence in the study, and everyone was staring at the map as if thinking about Feng Zhiyao's words.

Ye Li looked up at everyone, "What do you think?"

After a long while, the young Yun Ting stepped out and said, "I agree with General Feng's proposal. I am willing to be the vanguard and clear the way for the princess!"

Soon, more people seconded the proposal.

Looking at the excited generals below, Ye Li nodded and said softly: "I understand. Everyone, go back and prepare. No matter what kind of battle will come next, I hope everyone can have enough preparation and energy."

"Yes, princess."

All the generals said goodbye one after another, leaving only Feng Zhiyao, Zhuo Jing and others in the study. Feng Zhiyao looked at Ye Li and said, "Does the princess agree with my opinion?" Ye Li smiled and said, "After being delayed in Xinyang for so long, Feng San is anxious, right?" Feng Zhiyao shook his head and said, "I understand that the princess has her own considerations. Besides... the princess's current health is really not suitable for long-distance travel..." If they want to delay the King of Zhennan in the northwest, they can't retreat to Hongzhou too early or too late. If they do it too early, the King of Zhennan will see through their intentions, and if they do it too late, they may really ruin the entire three states and eleven cities in the northwest. Ye Li said, "My health won't be a problem. Please go and prepare. There is one more thing you need to do in person." Feng Zhiyao saw that Ye Li was speaking seriously and looked serious. He said solemnly, "Princess, please give me your instructions."

Ye Li lowered her eyes and said, "Even if we retreat to Hongzhou, I don't want the people of Xiling to get another grain of rice or food in the northwest."

Feng Zhiyao was startled, "What does the princess mean..."

"Build a strong defense and clear the countryside." Ye Li uttered these four words faintly.

Feng Zhiyao remained silent. Although he had never heard of this word, it did not prevent him from understanding what it meant. Looking at the beautiful woman in front of him with a somewhat dazed look, Feng Zhiyao's expression changed and he said respectfully, "I will obey your orders."

"Back off."

"I will take my leave."

Watching Feng Zhiyao's back disappear at the door, Ye Li closed her eyes tiredly, with a hint of sadness between her brows. Zhuo Jing looked at her and whispered, "Princess, the Xiling army is now burning and killing in the northwest. The people are already suffering. It's not your fault." Ye Li shook her head and smiled bitterly, "But I'm afraid I've made them suffer even more." Once the Xiling people can't grab food, how can they not vent their anger on ordinary people? Zhuo Jing said, "There are not many people near Xinyang anymore."

Ye Li raised his hand and rubbed his brows, and said softly: "Forget it, go and get ready. We can't leave in vain, we must leave some gifts for the people of Xiling before leaving."

Qin Feng's eyes lit up, and he stepped forward and said, "Princess, I beg you to stay and take care of us."

Ye Li looked at him, "What do you think?"

Qin Feng smiled a little embarrassedly: "I do have some ideas, but... the secrets cannot be revealed." Ye Li raised the corners of her lips slightly and smiled: "It just so happens that I also have some ideas, why don't we discuss them together."

Not only Qin Feng, Zhuo Jing and others also became excited. Qin Feng said loudly: "I obey your command!"